FG Disburses ₦200 Million Grants to 14 Female Engineers to Boost Innovation and Technology Growth

The Federal Government has awarded grants totaling ₦200 million to 14 exceptional women engineers, empowering them to expand their innovative projects aimed at addressing Nigeria’s critical developmental and technological challenges.

The initiative, driven by the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) in collaboration with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), represents the second phase of the Developing Engineering Leadership and Technology – Her (DELT-Her) program. The scheme was established to promote women’s participation and leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Speaking during the award ceremony in Abuja, Chairman of PICTT, Dr. Dahiru Mohammed, described DELT-Her as a strategic intervention designed to empower women in engineering and foster inclusive technological advancement.

“DELT-Her was conceived as part of a national effort to close the gender gap in STEM and create a platform where women can lead impactful innovations that drive development across multiple sectors,” he said.

Dr. Mohammed highlighted that the program has experienced tremendous growth since its inception. The first edition in 2024 supported six women engineers with ₦70.5 million in grants. However, in 2025, applications surged from 120 to an impressive 9,925 entries nationwide, showing the growing interest and belief in the initiative’s mission.

“From this highly competitive process, 14 outstanding female engineers emerged as this year’s beneficiaries, collectively receiving ₦200 million in funding to further their projects,” he added.

The selected innovations span diverse fields, including agriculture, clean energy, healthcare, mobility, digital security, and environmental sustainability—each offering practical solutions to real-world problems and contributing to Nigeria’s industrial and technological growth.

In addition to supporting innovators, the DELT-Her program also extends its reach to secondary schools, where young girls are mentored and exposed to STEM education. Dr. Mohammed revealed that while 30 girls were mentored in Abuja in 2024, this year’s outreach expanded to over 150 students across Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Through hands-on STEM bootcamps and fabrication workshops, participants developed creative prototypes such as biodiesel production models and solar-powered devices—an approach Mohammed said is “inspiring the next generation of female innovators and problem-solvers.”

Also speaking at the event, Project Coordinator of DELT-Her under NASENI and PICTT, Olamide Apejoye, attributed the program’s expansion to increased awareness and strong institutional support.

“We saw massive growth in participation—from 150 applications last year to nearly 10,000 this year. The funding also increased from ₦17.5 million to ₦228 million overall,” she noted.

Apejoye emphasized that empowering women in STEM is not only about inclusion but also about driving sustainable economic growth. “Each prototype developed leads to potential startups, more jobs, and greater economic opportunities for women across Nigeria,” she explained.

She encouraged young women scientists and engineers to prepare for the next round of applications, assuring them that the government remains committed to supporting female-led innovation.

The DELT-Her initiative, introduced in 2024, aligns with Nigeria’s National Science, Technology, and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR 2030), which focuses on inclusive participation and the transfer of local technology. With women representing less than 22% of Nigeria’s engineering workforce, programs like DELT-Her are seen as essential to ensuring gender equity and strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem.

By bridging gender gaps in science and technology, the Federal Government aims to position Nigeria as a regional hub for engineering excellence, women-led innovation, and sustainable economic advancement.